Welder deal?

Good deal?

Paul

I picked up the welder at lunch. It was 30 to 240 amps and has two ranges but infinite settings between hi and low of both ranges. It smells fine. No fried windings or capacitors here. I'll take a peak in my little 110v. buzz box for one of those capacitors though. It's a little hard to start but I've managed to work it. Maybe it'd be a lot better if I find a cooked capactor to replace.

I think this will be a good step for me.

Thanks for everyone for all the input.

If you assemble a bridge rectifier, the DC output will be 1.44 times the AC voltage output.

One solution to the problem of hard starting arcs is to find a high-frequency unit. We put one on the school welder years ago that we got on sale at Sears. You might be able to find a good deal on one of those somewhere. They really help!

I'm not sure when I'll get to playing with converting my welder to DC but it's bound to happen. Getting acquainted with my welder as it is will take me a while.

Thanks for all the help.

Terry is right about the fact that sometimes 70 amps is too much. You may already know this but you will have fewer burn thru problems if you push the rod on thin material. Also, you can reduce output by wrapping the welding lead around a 12" to 18" piece of copper or brass bar stock. There are other factors that effectively influence output as well. Not enough room here to elaborate.

I would personally consider the amp adjustment mechanism when comparing welders. The shunt type (on the Thunderbolt for example)is infinitely variable allowing you to get almost exactly the desired amp setting. The Lincoln 225S for example may be too hot at one setting and too cold for the next. You just can't easily get between the preset output ranges.

Compare the warranty to other machines as well. Also compare the duty cycle which should be 20% on a buss box like that.

Hope that helps you out a little.
Steve

This is the Craftsman AC only but has infinate adjustment. I already own a small 20 to 70 amp 110v. buzz box and it's great on sheet metal. I'm one of the few in town that can arc weld a mailbox (for what ever that honor is worth).

I think this bigger box will get me out of the "fat crayons" and into a "box of 24 Crayolas." Someday, I'll get a AC/DC or maybe a MIG unit (that's a box of 48 Crayola's) but for now, I think this is going to be a good step up.

Thanks for the tips on preventing burn through. I'm a self taught welder and can use all the help I can get.

I plan to take a welding class at the Voc-Tech school but that will have to be when I have some time.